UAAP: La Salle completes Game 1 comeback, on cusp of crown | ABS-CBN

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UAAP: La Salle completes Game 1 comeback, on cusp of crown

UAAP: La Salle completes Game 1 comeback, on cusp of crown

Karl Cedrick Basco,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated May 08, 2023 08:59 AM PHT

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The De La Salle University and National University battle in game 1 of the finals of the UAAP Season 85 Women
The De La Salle University and National University battle in game 1 of the finals of the UAAP Season 85 Women's Volleyball in Quezon City on May 7, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) – The De La Salle Lady Spikers extended their mastery over the defending champions National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs to move closer to the championship.

The Lady Spikers bucked a 1-2 deficit en route to winning Game of 1 of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball finals, against the Lady Bulldogs, 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13 at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

La Salle is now a win away from lifting the women’s title for the first time in five years and dethroning NU in the process.

Super rookie Angel Canino once again steered La Salle with 21 points on 19 attacks and two aces while Thea Gagate added 17 points, including four blocks, to put the Lady Spikers on the brink of winning their 12th title in the league.

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“Masaya na nakuha namin yung Game 1, kahit papano pinaghirapan. Siguro, talagang ginusto ng mga bata na manalo. Since we're down two sets to one, nung fourth set kinapitan, hanggang fifth set,” assistant coach Noel Orcullo said.

“At least, pinakita naman ng mga bata na gusto nila manalo and yan yung magandang resulta, nakuha namin yung Game 1.”

Down by a set, the Lady Spikers kept their composure in the fourth frame as they erected a 10-5 lead capped by a quick hit of Fifi Sharma.

They further stretched the gap as Vange Alinsug’s spike went outside, 17-10. NU would score three straight points after that challenged La Salle, 13-17.

A block by Jolina dela Cruz gave them a 21-16 cushion but Alinsug sparked a mini 3-0 spurt to trim their deficit by two, 20-22.

Canino and Gagate, then, teamed up in the ensuing plays to eventually forced a fifth set in front of 10,995 fans in the Big Dome.

It was a neck and neck battle in the deciding frame with both teams exchanging point every play. But La Salle broke away from 6-6 deadlock with three NU errors and block by Gagate, 10-6.

The Lady Bulldogs were able to cut La Salle’s lead as Solomon went for an off-the-block kill, 12-13.

Unfortunately, NU’s Sheena Toring suffered an ugly fall in the next sequence that saw her stretchered her out of the court and was replaced by Chams Maaya.

Canino fired a crosscourt spike to reach match point but Belen saved one with an off-the-block kill.

Joyme Cagande gambled on Maaya for a possible equalizer but her set was too low, which resulted in an attack error to end Game 1.

Solomon tallied a game-high 28 points on 24 attacks, two blocks, and two aces while reigning MVP Belen had 22 points, 12 digs, and 14 receptions.

NU outspiked the Lady Spikers 70-46 but La Salle registered 16 total blocks compared to just four of the defending champions. The Lady Bulldogs also committed 34 errors to La Salle's 24.

UAAP Season 85 is streaming on iWantTFC every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, available for Premium users outside the Philippines.

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